Getting Started with Copilot in Power BI Desktop: A Step-by-Step Guide (Part 1)

[Abhilash_P]

Prerequisites: What You Need Before You Start

To use Copilot in Power BI Desktop, make sure you have one of the following:

• Admin, member, or contributor access to at least one workspace that’s assigned to a paid Fabric capacity (F2 or higher) or a Power BI Premium capacity (P1 or higher) with Copilot enabled.
• Alternatively, if you’re assigned access to a Fabric Copilot capacity, you won't need to select a workspace to get started.

If you don’t meet these requirements, you won’t be able to activate Copilot in Power BI Desktop

First Time Setup: How to Start Copilot in Power BI Desktop

When you use Copilot in Power BI Desktop for the first time, you’re asked to pick a Copilot compatible workspace when you select the Copilot button in the ribbon.

Note - The workspace you select doesn’t need to be the same as the workspace where you plan to publish your report.

Below are the further steps :-

1. Open your Power BI report and click on the Copilot button in the ribbon. This will open the Copilot pane. The Copilot pane will ask you to select the workspace that’s compatible with Copilot.
   
2. Select the workspace from the list of supported workspaces (only ones with the right capacity and permissions show up).
   
3. Need to switch the selected workspace later?
    
   • Click the Settings gear icon at the bottom-right corner of Power BI.
     
   • This opens the Options window where you can manage Copilot settings under Copilot (preview) and change the workspace association.
     
4. If you don’t see any eligible workspaces, you’ll get a message saying:
   “Either none of your workspaces have the right capacity to use Copilot, or you don't have the right permission to use them.”
   In this case, check your workspace assignments or request access from your admin.
   

Ready to Use Copilot

Once you’ve selected a workspace, you’re all set to start creating reports with Copilot. The Copilot will help you generate visuals, insights, and much more making your Power BI experience more intuitive and efficient.

Important Limitations to Keep in Mind

• Copilot is not supported in workspaces using Power BI Premium Per User (PPU) licensing.
• The Copilot button might appear for some users even if the chat pane isn’t yet available. If so, keep your Power BI Desktop updated to access new features as they roll out.
• The Copilot pane won’t work with Power BI Desktop versions released in or before January 2025, so make sure to update to the latest version.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I will dive into using Copilot to create reports and unlock its full AI-powered capabilities!

[_Abhilash]

Informative - Looking forward for next one